Let’s obsess over this sweet and spicy carnitas taco! There’s crushed pineapples, brown sugar, Mirin sauce and molasses for the sweet, and to spice things up there are jalapeños and more. This is ridiculously good, so let’s get cooking.
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Spicy Hawaiian Pulled Pork Tacos
- Total Time: 9 hours 15 mins
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Description
Slow cooking is where it’s at, especially when it turns out food like these spicy carnitas tacos. Prep, drop and let it cook away.
Ingredients
Units
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Mirin sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 3 jalapenos; stemmed, halved and seeded
- 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 8 small tortillas
Instructions
- Place pineapple juice, brown sugar, Mirin, soy sauce, Worcesterchire and molasses in and jalapeños in a food processor bowl and pulse to combine. Pour mixture into the crock pot.
- In a small bowl, add in salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, cayenne and paprika and whisk to combine. Sprinkle mixture on to top of pork shoulder and rub and press into the meat. Add the prepared meat into the crock pot with the liquid and cook on high for 1 hour; and then turn temperature down to low for 8 hours.
- Remove meat and shred. Serve with in tortillas with your preferred mango or pineapple salsa or fresh pico de gallo.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 9 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of pork is best for making the pulled pork in these tacos?
Pork shoulder is the best choice for this recipe as it becomes tender and flavorful when cooked low and slow.
How can I adjust the spiciness of the tacos if I want them less spicy?
You can reduce the amount of jalapeños or omit them altogether, and consider using milder peppers for a gentler heat.
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of crushed pineapples in this recipe?
Yes, you can use fresh pineapple; just chop it finely and adjust the quantity to match the sweetness and moisture level of the crushed variety.
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Spicy Pork Sausage Spaghetti
- Bacon & Pineapple Chicken Kabobs with Hawaiian Sauce
- Italian Pulled Pork with Creamy Parmesan Polenta
- Pork Adobado Tacos with Charred Pineapple
These are absolutely delicious. My whole family loved it- even my 13 year old who didn’t think she likes pork (told her it was chicken).